Administrative Hearings and Human Stories: Social Security Disability on the Frontlines

Shannon Struble has spent more than a decade prosecuting gang-related crimes in a county with a lot of violent gang activity. In this episode, she takes us inside the day-to-day life of a prosecutor. Shannon walks through the fast-paced charging process — where prosecutors have just 48 hours to review evidence and decide whether to file charges — negotiating pleas, and navigating the courtroom. She reflects on the vicarious trauma of watching crimes unfold on body cam footage, responding to homicide scenes at 2 a.m., and finding moments of reward when rehabilitation succeeds. Shannon also explores what justice really looks like and the role prosecutors can play in supporting rehabilitation, not just punishment. Shannon is a graduate of Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Colorado Law SchoolLearn more about Colorado LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!

Families don’t call Matt Talbot when things are going well. They call when grief, money, and long-simmering tensions rise to the surface. He helps clients navigate conservatorships, financial elder abuse, and complex estate litigation. In this episode, Matt discusses the emotional weight of handling kidnapping cases across state lines, the challenge of proving financial abuse when the victim can no longer speak for themselves, and how the Britney Spears case fundamentally changed California conservatorship law. He candidly shares how repeated exposure to family disasters has made him both emotionally hardened to client trauma and deeply committed to preserving his own family relationships. Matt reflects on the importance of getting evidence upfront, managing clients who want to "go nuclear" on family relationships, and why sometimes the best thing for a client isn't indulging their emotions. Matt Talbot is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law. This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek. Mentioned in this episode:Colorado Law SchoolLearn more about Colorado LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!

If you ask environmental protection lawyer Elise Bennett who her clients are, she might joke that some days it’s the frosted flatwood salamander, the gopher tortoise, or Florida panther – but officially, it’s the Center for Biological Diversity. Elise is the Center's Florida and Caribbean Director, leading efforts to protect endangered species and wild places through legal action and advocacy. When developers threaten wetlands or forests, Elise steps in to defend the creatures who can’t speak for themselves.In this episode, she dives into the Endangered Species Act and explains how it safeguards even the smallest living creatures. Elise talks about choosing law as a means to protect the environment she loves, why some cases can stretch on for more than a decade, and what it takes to stay hopeful in the face of ongoing destruction. From the spring pygmy sunfish to the Florida Keys mole skink, her work shows how the law – and persistence – can buy endangered species a fighting chance. Elise is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!Colorado Law SchoolLearn more about Colorado Law

Whitney Lallas is a family law attorney in Maine. She shares her journey into family law, influenced by her interest in psychology and math. The emotional and financial aspects of her work figure prominently into what she likes about her work, as well as what's challenging. She provides insights into handling prenuptial agreements, child-related matters, and dealing with hidden assets. Whitney also explains her eat-what-you-kill compensation structure and emphasizes the significance of maintaining work-life balance. Whitney is a 2019 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolColorado Law SchoolLearn more about Colorado Law

Rachel Frank is a senior associate at Quinn Emanuel who focuses on appellate litigation. She discusses the journey from summer associate to working on cases before the Supreme Court. Rachel explains what appellate practice actually involves, from preparing partners for oral arguments through intensive moot courts to crafting persuasive appellate briefs. She discusses how she uses AI as a thinking partner, the value of her federal appellate clerkship, and how her work has evolved over time. Rachel reflects on some of her firm's cultural quirks and why they matter to her. She also candidly discusses managing work-life balance. Rachel is a graduate of Yale Law School.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about BlueprintSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawAccess LawHub today!Learn more about Baylor LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law School

Matt Skinner is a public defender with passion. Criminal defense is high-stakes, sometimes chaotic work that can be extremely difficult, but Matt navigates the courts, clients, and his career with genuine sincerity and excitement. As a lawyer for those who are accused of felonies but cannot afford a lawyer, his love for underdogs fuels his advocacy. It was a profound experience in high school, however, that set him on this path. On a high school trip to the local jail, he ran into two of his friends--behind bars. Matt is a 2018 graduate of Seton Hall Law School.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:William & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law SchoolLearn more about Baylor LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!Seattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Blueprint

For the government, sanctions and export controls are foreign policy tools. For businesses, they are legal minefields. Audi Syarief is a senior associate who helps clients navigate this high-stakes world of regulatory puzzles and enforcement actions. In this episode, Audi explains how sanctions work, the outsized role of ambiguity in his practice, and his approach to managing risk across diverse client situations. He discusses the collaborative nature of working with deal teams, solving complex sanctions puzzles that can make or break deals, and how lawyers help keep clients compliant while enforcement agencies watch closely. From panicked calls about accidental violations to negotiating licenses with government regulators, Audi works at the intersection of law and foreign policy. Audi is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!William & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law SchoolLearn more about Baylor LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about BlueprintBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of Law

Jeremy Evans managed to outlast hundreds who started law school hoping to do sports and entertainment law. He talks about the struggle to start his own firm and why he thinks he was among the last standing. Jeremy is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law. This is a replay of episode #47 that originally aired on June 20, 2020.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about BlueprintBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallAccess LawHub today!Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about Baylor LawWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law School

Through her social security disability practice, Asha Sharma represents clients who are often struggling with poverty, homelessness, and complex medical conditions. In this episode, she discusses the realities of building a practice around contingency fees from federal back pay, the challenge of working with vulnerable clients who lack proper medical documentation, and the extensive medical knowledge required to effectively advocate for people with conditions ranging from chronic pain to severe mental illness. Asha reflects on preparing for administrative hearings before federal judges, the impact of fraud cases that have tightened evidentiary standards, and why she finds meaning in work that helps society's most marginalized individuals navigate a complex federal system. Asha Sharma is a graduate of University of Minnesota Law School. This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Learn more about BlueprintBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawSeattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about Baylor LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!

Joe Stephens operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and traditional legal practice. As both a trial consultant and public defender, he helps lawyers harness AI to transform their litigation strategies and case preparation. Joe discusses how he guides other attorneys through AI integration, from analyzing mountains of depositions to crafting more effective motions. In his own public defender work, Joe has implemented AI tools to efficiently process vast amounts of digital discovery and pinpoint crucial moments in hours of police camera footage, allowing him to provide more thorough representation to indigent clients with limited resources. Joe Stephens is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.This episode is hosted by Katya Valasek.Mentioned in this episode:Access LawHub today!Seattle LawLearn more about Seattle University School of LawBU LawLearn more about Boston University School of LawLearn more about Seton HallLearn more about BlueprintLearn more about Baylor LawLoyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolWilliam & Mary LawLearn more about William & Mary Law School